by Lynne Clifford-Ward, KDH Foundation
The Kemptville District Hospital Foundation is in the process of raising $2.2 million to bring a CT Scanner to the hospital. What follows is the Hospital’s chronological story, how it came to be, how the community has generously supported the Hospital over the decades, how it has physically transformed since 1960 and why the current fundraising campaign is such an important Crossroads for the hospital and the community. This is the second part of a series on the history of KDH.
And so it begins!
W.B. George was named Hospital Construction Chairman in July 1958.
The Ontario Hospital Services Commission approved the architects’ plan and by September 30, after the land surveyor completed the survey, a six-acre site was purchased just off Concession Road. Construction tenders were called on November 10 and shortly thereafter, the sod was turned by the Hon. MacKinnon Phillips, Ontario Minister of Health.
Congratulatory Canadian Pacific telegrams were received by the Hospital Committee from well wishers in Montreal who remarked on “its forward-looking enterprise”. Gordon Goldie, the Toronto consultant who guided the initial fundraising campaign, sent his “best wishes on this most auspicious date in the history of the Kemptville District Hospital”.
In January 1959, H.P. MacFarland Construction Company of Picton was awarded the contract to build the Hospital and Dockrill Construction of Ottawa was awarded the water and sewer contract.
The go ahead to begin construction was given by the Ontario Hospital Commission in February. Contracts were signed, sealed and delivered by March and the first trucks moved onto the site in April.
By May, the concrete foundations were poured and one month later, basic plumbing was in place. A large sign was installed and proclaimed the site of the future hospital. The first storey was completed by September and as winter approached, both the furnace and the elevator were installed.
The Formation of the KDH Auxiliary:
Long before there was even a hospital building, Miss Margaret Storey, RN, Chairman of “Women’s Activities” on the Board of Governors, issued a call in January 1959 to all interested women in the Kemptville area to meet in Leslie Hall at St. James Church, with the intention of forming a hospital women’s auxiliary. The response far exceeded expectations; 751 women subscribed to help with Public Relations, Volunteer Service and Fundraising. The Auxiliary, comprised of a central auxiliary and initially 19 distinct units (with the last standing unit, Acton’s Corners, merging with the KDH Auxiliary in 2022), would later be described by Helen Patterson, first KDH Auxiliary President (1959-1961) as “the tie that binds the community to the Hospital”.
Appointment of the First KDH Administrator, Miss Hawkins, RN:
On January 4, 1960, the first KDH Administrator, Miss Marjorie Hawkins, RN, was hired. Trained at the Pembroke Cottage Hospital, she had served four years as a nursing sister officer with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in Bruges, Belgium during WWII. Upon her arrival in Kemptville and prior to a brick-and-mortar hospital, she immediately began ordering equipment, writing policies, hiring staff, supporting the formation of the Auxiliary and importantly, building strong bridges within the community. She tirelessly led the Hospital for fifteen years, and then for many years contributed as a volunteer and ex-officio Board member.
Financial Crossroads:
Shortly after Miss Hawkins assumed her duties at KDH, there was an urgent fundraising campaign which was launched to the cry, “Open the doors!” Even with federal and provincial grants totalling $224,078, there was a shortfall of $148,000 due to spiralling construction costs. Budgeted at “$12,000 per bed”, the actual cost was now “$18,000 per bed”, which totally depleted the building fund. Rather than approaching the community again, this second urgent campaign was aimed primarily at national corporations in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto which did business in the area. By June, $75,000 was secured to “open the doors” and reach the finish line. One month earlier, the interior of the hospital was near completion.
Another milestone was also achieved with the installation of the first Permanent KDH Board of Directors on March 28, 1960.
Photo: On Opening Day, June 29, 1960, Miss Marjorie Hawkins, led the nursing staff into the new Kemptville District Hospital where they provided tours to 2,000 visitors. Photo by Daykin Photographic.
